Humidor.



' L. c. DAVIDSON.-

- HUMIDOB.

fiiPPLlCATlON FILED APR. 27'. l 9l6. 1,237,023. Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@126. Fania 6m,

L. C. DAVIDSON.

HUMIDOR.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 27, 1916.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' IAYMAN C. DAVIDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HUMIDOR;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 27, 1916. Serial 1\To. 93,850.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN C. DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Humidors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to humidors, and particularly portable ones. The object of the invention is to provide a device of this class readily placeable in a. suitcase, handbag, or the like in which the cigars carried by the humidor will be retained in predetermined positions so that they cannot be broken in transportation, and yet will be readily accessible to the user; this regardless of the number, large or small, which may be in the humidor, and to, at the same time, provide the humidor with a substantially perfect closure device adapted to retain the necessary moisture purposely placed within the humidor for the benefit of the cigars, and exclude external moisture.

The invention consists in a device capable of carrying out the foregoing objects; which can be easily and cheaply made; which is eflicient in operation and not readily liable to get out of order. It consists further in the features and details of construction which will be hereafter fully set forth in the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views Figure l is a perspective view of the exterior of a closed humidor illustrating this invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the three main parts of the humidor of Fig. 1, shown in disassembled position.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 5. V

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ratchet mechanism located at the upper end of the drawershown in the middle of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the device, showing most of the case and cover removed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, partially in section.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of certain parts located at the bottom of the device, as shown in Fig. 5.

The humidor proper is comprised of three main parts: a case 10, a cover therefor 12 and a cigar holding drawer 14 slidable into the case The case 10 is, as shown, made with an lmperforate bottom and side walls, preferably of' some light metal, such as aluminum, while the cover 12 of the same material is made with an imperforate top and side walls, and of sufficient size so that the lower edges 16 of the walls of the cover fit over the upper edges 18 of the case and bear against a rubber washer 20 retainedin an annular recess formed all around the outer walls of the case by means of the spacing block 22 and the flange 24 clearly shown in the drawings. This washer20 is preferably of the peculiar construction shown in the drawing; viz., a hollow rubber tube of such a diameter that it is laterally compressed, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, in being inserted in place. By the use of this hollow tube packing ring retained in this way, an extremely satisfactorily tight-joint is formed between the upper surface of the tube'and the lower edges 16 of the cover, with the result that when pressure is applied to the cover to draw it onto the case, in the manner .to be hereafter described, a substantially perfectly tight-joint is obtained. Obviously, the shape and, positions and arrangement of the cover, ring and case may be varied within wide limits without departingfrom this invention so long as the ring is compressed between the cover and case or parts attached thereto.

Projecting from opposite sides of the cover, preferably in alinement with each other, are pins or studs 26 and 28, preferably but .not necessarily so located on the side walls of the cover that when the, parts are in assembled position they respectively enter the U-shaped sides of the flange 24 of the case.

Extending from opposite sides of the case, in the particular case here illustrated, from the flange 24 and preferably in the line of travel of the studs 26 and 28 into'the ,slots 30, are pins or studs 32 and 34, shown in the drawings as screws. Journaled on each of these studs 32 and 34 is an eccentric cam 36 rigidly connected to one arm of'a U-shaped lever 38 which passes aroundthe outer walls of the case, as shown inthe drawings. As these cams 36 are correspondingly placed on opposite ends of the lever. and as the cams are correspondingly shaped, it follows that as the lever movesthe cams Patented Aug; 14, 1917.

recesses 30 formed on opposite move in unison on opposite sides of the case with the result that they simultaneously and correspondingly manipulate latch hooks engagement located that as soon as 40, one placed over each cam 36 and urged toward and over the studs 26 and 28 respectively by the springs 42, one on each side of the case.

Extending from opposite sides of the flange 2t are stop lugs 44:, one for each hook 40 and adapted to, by engagement with the forward end 10 of the hook, prevent the hook swinging too far in a clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings under the action of the controlling spring t2 belonging to the particular hook in question. This only takes place when the cover 12 is removed so that the hooks do not have the studs 26 or 28, as the case may be, to take hold of.

Extending from each arm of U-shaped lever 38 is a catch or lug 46 so located that as the lever 38 approaches the position shown in Fig. 2 these dogs 46 engage the respective latches 4:0 and move them from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 against the action of the springs 42. The travel of the lever 38 in a counterclockwise direction is limited by suitable stops 48 provided for the purpose. The cams 36 are so shaped that when the lever 38 is in the position of Fig. 2 and begins to move in a clockwise direction toward that of Fig. 1, the hooks 40 are extended upwardly as far as possible, with the result that as lever 38 moves over, the hooks swing under the action of the spring 42 freely over the respective studs 26 and 28 in the position in which these studs assume when the cover has been placed in closed position over the case by hand. These cams are also so shaped and these hooks have thus swung over their respective studs 26 and 28 and movement of the lever 38 is continued toward the position of Figs. 1 and 5, these cams 36 draw the hooks 4L0 forcibly downward, thereby drawing the studs 26 and 28 and consequently the cover 12 downward. The relation of the lever 38 and these cams is such that the movement of the lever described exerts a very powerful pressure upon the studs 26 and 28 and consequently a powerful pressure on the cover 12 to seat it on the cushion ring 20, heretofore described in detail.

In the particular design of the device here illustrated, the greastest locking effect or pressure of the hooks 4:0 on studs 26 and 28 takes place when the lever 38 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 where the bottom of the U is in substantial contact with the side wall of the case, and there is, therefore, little danger of the lever being accidentally engaged by external objects to release the lock. Obviously, the cams 36 may be located on the lever in other designs, so that looking rows of cigars,

will take place in other positions of the lever 38 without departing from this invention.

The use of this U-shaped lever is very important because it enables the operator by a single movement of the hand to eXert a predetermined uniform securing or looking pressure on both sides of the case 12, and secure results which could not be obtained were independent looking or securing devices separately manipulatably arranged on opposite sides of the case.

The stop &8 merely serves the function of preventing the lever 38 moving too far in a counter-clockwise direction and thus twisting the books 40 around under the springs 42 which would be a useless movement. Obviously, limiting stops performing the function of stops 48 may be located in a variety of positions upon the device without departing from the invention.

The second division of the invention consists in novel means for retaining the cigars 50 in the retaining drawer 1A which slides into the case, regardless of whether there is one cigar or enough cigars to fill the drawer therein, and regardless of whether the drawer is made of a depth to contain two as shown in the drawings, or a larger number of rows or layers of cigars.

In carrying out this feature of the invention a flexible, preferably spring, separating member 52 is provided of any suitable construction. In the particular case here illustrated this member is an open-work affair comprising a plurality of separated longitudinal bars as shown connected together at suitable intervals; in the particular design hereillustrated by the end members 5& and 56. The member 5 1: is, as illustrated in the drawings, pivotally mounted at one end of the drawer l t at a point immediately adjacent to the upper surface of the row of cigars which it is designed to hold in place. This pivoting is accomplished and rendered adjustable by journaling the member 54: in a sliding frame 58 shown in perspective in Fig. 8, which frame is adapted to slide in longitudinal slots 60 provided for the purpose in the end of the drawer (see Fig. 8). This frame 58 is selectively lockable in different vertical positions with reference to the end of the drawer by the catch 62 which comprises the locking the longitudinal slot 64 in member 58 and the U-shaped slot 66 in the end of the drawer, the result being that when catch 62 is in end 68 of slot 66 the member 52 is rigidly secured in the position shown in Fig. 6 at the height of one cigar at the bottom of the drawer, while when it is moved into end 68 of slot 66, the member 52 is located at the top of the drawer or in proper position to retain two rows of cigars in place.

The member 56 on the opposite end of member 52 is detachably secured in slightly pin passing through varying different positions along the vertical height of the drawer by the latch device clearly shown in Fig. 4. This mechanism consists of two oppositely disposed vertical latch bars and 72 located in suitable retaining recesses 7 4. located at the corners of the drawer 14. These bars 70 and 72 are provided with serrated faces 76 adaptedto engage the opposite ends of the cross-member 56 on member 52. These bars 70 and 72 which each have rigid angularly disposed horizontal members 7 0 and 72 respectively, are drawn together by the retractile spring 78. Pivotally connected to latch bar 70 at 80 is a connecting rod 82, while a similar connecting rod 84 is attached to bar 72 at 86. These two bars 82 and 84: are pivoted together on a pin 88 adapted to slide vertically in a slot 90 in the end of the drawer. The result of this construction is that when pin 88 is moved down slot 90 so that rods 82 and 84 are in alinement with each other, the latch bars 70 and 72 are moved far enough apart to entirely clear the ends of member 56 with the result that member 52 may be swung into or out of the drawer at the will of the operator. On the other hand, when pin 88 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, the rods 82 and 84 are in such a position that the spring 78 can and does draw the latch dogs 70 and 72 into engagement with the ends of member 56. As the serrations 76 are relatively small and close together, it clearly appears that the end member 56 of the separating device 52 may be placed at substantially any desired position vertically of the drawer with the result that the member 52, being flexible, may be drawn comparatively tightly over any number of cigars 50 located within the drawer, with the result that any selected number of cigars are held in place. Where only three cigars are in the drawer, as indicated in Fig. 6, the member 52 would, in practice, have its upper end as viewed in Fig. 6 located very much nearer the bottom of the drawer than there appears with the result that member 52 would be flexed over the cigars 50 nearest the middle of the drawer, thus holding all of the three cigars in place not merely against vertical but against longitudinal movement in the drawer.

The humidor illustrated in the drawings is provided with a moisture carrying device 92 adapted to supplythe cigars with the necessary moisture.

By the construction shown and heretofore described, a substantially air-tight and moisture-proof device is provided of the size to carry from one cigar and upward, in which the cigars within the device may be adjustably detachably secured in position so as to prevent breakage of the cigars, regardless of the number which may be in the humidor. By making the device of suitable material, such as aluminum, 'it m ay be readily transported from place toplace.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent, -is:-

1. In a device of the class described, a retaining membersecured at one endadjacent toa wall of the receptacle, apairof oppositely disposed latch dogs located within the receptacle and adjacentto theopposite end of the retaining memberadaptedto secure said retaining member in selected difierent positions above the bottom ofthe receptacle, means moving said dogs toward each other to accomplish the last mentioned result, and manuallyoperated means adapted to move said dogs in the opposite direction.

2. In a device of the class described,the co bination of a receptacle adapted-to contain cigars, a flexible retaining member adapted to lie over cigars within said-receptacle, a latch dog mounted withinthereceptacle at one side of the retaining member, movable toward and from said retaining member, means moving said latch dog to- Ward the retaining member, and-manually operatable means moving it in the opposite direction.

3. In a device of the class described,, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain cigars; a flexible retaining -member adapted to lie over cigars within said receptacle, a latch dog in the form of a bar or post extending into said receptacle and lying adjacent to an edge of said retaining member, serrations upon said latch dog adapted to be engaged by said edge of said retaining member, and means moving said latch dog toward and from said retaining member whereby the retaining member is held in different positions with reference to the receptacle, depending upon which notch in the latch dog engages the retaining member.

4. In a device of the class described, an open drawer or receptacle adapted to contain cigars, a flexible retaining member adapted to lie over cigars within said receptacle to hold them in place, a pair of postlike latch dogs extending into the receptacle on opposite sides of the retaining member so shaped as to engage and hold the retaining member in different positions along said latch dogs, a retractile spring drawing said latch dogs together, and connecting rods attached to each other and to said respective dogs adapted to force them apart.

5. In a device of the class described, an open drawer or receptacle adapted to contain cigars, a flexible retaining member adapted to lie over cigars within said receptacle to hold them in place, a pair of postlike latch dogs extending into the receptacle on opposite sides of the retaining member so shaped as to engage and hold the retaining member in different positions along said latch dogs, a retractile spring drawing said latch dogs together, connecting rods attached to each Other and to said respective dogs adapted to force them apart, and a pin or handle at the common juncture of the connecting rod extending through a slot in a wall of the drawer whereby the dogs may be operated from outside the drawer.

6. In a device of the class described, a drawer adapted to contain cigars, a track adjacent to one side wall of the drawer adapted to permit movement of a cross member therein, a cross member lying in said track, a pin extending through an elongated slot in said cross member and through another slot in the adjacent end wall of the drawer of different shape from the first mentioned slot whereby the operator may, by adjusting said pin in said slots, vary the position of the cross member in the drawer and lock it in different positions, and a retaining member for the cigars secured to said cross member whereby the retaining member is adjusted with reference to the drawer by adjusting the cross member, for the purposes set forth.

7 In a device of the class described, a drawer adapted to contain cigars, a flexible cigar retaining member extending through Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the opposite the drawer normally parallel to the bottom thereof, a cross member in the drawer adjacent to one end of the retaining member, a pivotal connection between the retaining member and said cross member, means permitting movement of the cross member into a and out of the drawer, and means for selectively securing the cross member in different positions with reference to said end of the drawer whereby the pivotal position of the retaining member is selectively varied, latch devices, located at the opposite end of the drawer and retaining member, operatable from outside the drawer adapted to engage that end of the retaining member in a selectively variable series of slightly different positions with reference to the drawer whereby, by varying the combination of the pivotal position of one end of the retaining member and the point of attachment of the end of the member with reference to the drawer, any varied quantity of cigars may be secured within the drawer.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LYMAN C. DAVIDSON. Witnesses:

ETTA L. WHITE, M. S. Rosmvzwmc.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

